Home >> Special Circumstances >> Hand Washing and Alternative Machines >> Washing Cloth Diapers Using a Laundromat
by Janelle Coleman Originally posted on Janelle’s blog, Crunchy At Home, and reposted here with permission.
So I have lived in an apartment with shared, coin-op washers for more than 2 years. I certainly haven’t let that stop me from using cloth and neither should you!
When using coin-op facilities you have 3 options.
1) Use the washing machines. Run *2* full cycles.
- Always wash a full/large load. Whether you use the HE Washer or the Standard Top Load Washer the machine will be expecting you to wash a full load… So do it!
- Use the cycle with the longest/strongest agitation. Heavy duty or similar cycle.
- Add 1/2 the recommended dose into the first cycle.
- Add the full dose of detergent + water softener (if needed) + any boosters (Biz, Oxiclean, etc) that you choose into the second cycle (main wash).
- Dry by your chosen method.
2) Prewash by bucket and run *1* full cycle in the machine.
- The prewash will be done camp washer style, in the bathtub, with a bucket and plunger.
- Be sure not to overfill the bucket. Usually 1/2-3/4 full of diapers is perfect. Because you cannot do many diapers at once, I advise doing this every day to make life easier.
- Add 2-3 TBS detergent along with the water, warm or hot is best.
- Plunge the diapers 50 times. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes. Plunge them again, 50 times.
- Rinse the diapers well under the faucet. Then squeeze out the excess water and transfer to diaper pail or wet bag until wash day.
- Wash day – Always wash a full large load.
- Use the cycle with the longest/strongest agitation. Heavy duty or similar cycle.
- Add the full dose of detergent + water softener (if needed) + any boosters that you choose.
- Dry by your chosen method.
3) Hand Wash – Camp Washer Style
Good luck with your laundromat washing adventures!